*not* a pitchers duel

1. i'm glad to know the Indians announcers understand what a pitchers duel actually is. the way they've been throwing that term around this series, i was starting to wonder.

2. speaking of the Indians television coverage. they do about the poorest job of any station i recall watching when it comes to keeping the game stats available. you know what i mean. the little box or bar that shows the score, inning, outs, balls-strikes, possibly runners on base. if they had theirs up for 50% of the game, that's probably a generous assumption.

3. you know all those runs that weren't scored the last two games? how about 14-9 Sox tonight. it's like the runs had gotten clogged up & couldn't get through, then something loosened them up & they all came pouring out, one right after another. for both teams.

4. Manny is being Manny. thank God for that. two home runs tonight. this feels more like it! they measured his first one at 481 feet. third longest ever at Jacobs Field. his second home run went 412 feet. he pointed to the crowd, as only Manny can, and the fans went *crazy*. please note: we were the *visiting* team. to quote Extra Bases: "I think it's safe to say that Manny Ramirez really likes hitting in Jacobs Field."

5. ok. i give. JFL is on a career-high fifteen-game hit streak. thanks for participating in some way, you slimy little human void. and that, my friends, all the "affection" i can muster. besides, i think Lugo is trying to kill Youk so he can take back that bat he stole. he threw some kind of weird toss to first in the seventh inning (it ended up deflecting off Youk's glove and being scored as an error for our illustrious SS) that left Youk kneeling on the ground collecting his wits and inventorying all his parts after being contorted in a very awkward position. he took so long getting up, i was starting to get concerned.

6. WMP got his requisite home run for every fifty at-bats. plus a single and two doubles. hey Theo? that means we can trade him safely now. he's done producing for the season.

7. another weird play by Julian, who made his first relief appearance since August of last year. he *bounced* a ball to Youk at first. Youk still made the out, laying spread-eagle, face-down, stretching his foot to the bag. it's like it was abuse Youk night or something. no need for that. he is hard enough on himself. but leave it to Julian to snap his losing streak and get his sixth win the first time he pitches out of the bullpen.

8. observation: we haven't seen Kyle Snyder pitch in a long time.

9. the baseball gods smiled. the Yankees, who seemed as though they might never lose again, who were "surging" and on their way back to take control of the division, were shut out by the Royals last night, who finally managed to stop their suck fest long enough to keep the Evil Empire from sweeping them. (i guess they should have saved some of that hell & fury they unleashed on us for their series with the Bombers.) the pendulum swings again... and we're back to seven-and-a-half.

so. tonight the boys venture down to my neck of the woods for a weekend series. Wakey gets the nod tonight, and in the climate-controlled environment of The Trop, i am hoping he gets down to the business of winning. looking back at the 45 runs the Crankees scored on Tampa over three games last weekend, i am hoping the Sox can find it in them not to be embarrassed by the absolute worst team in MLB. this should be three comfortable wins. right, guys?